Elumelu to Global Leaders: Africa’s Youth Need Jobs, Not Handouts, Power Infrastructure
Nume Ekeghe
The Founder and Group Chairman of Heirs Holdings, Mr. Tony Elumelu, has urged global leaders to move beyond aid-based engagement with Africa, insisting that the continent’s young population requires jobs, electricity and infrastructure not handouts to unlock its economic potential.
Speaking at the 2026 Africa Forward Summit, convened by Kenyan President William Ruto and French President Emmanuel Macron, Elumelu told an audience of heads of state, investors and business leaders that Africa is seeking partnerships built on equality and shared value rather than patronage.
He maintained that the continent’s development would be driven by strategic investments in infrastructure and power, with the private sector playing a leading role in mobilising the capital required for sustainable economic growth.
